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THE 'MORNING OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, . MARCH . 19. 190T.
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I'OKTLAXP, TIESDAY, MARCH 1, 1907.
I'lTTINti ROOSEVELT IN A HOLE.
The "view-iwith-alarm" attitude of
the railroads upon the subject of regu
lation recalls the. cry of terror that
went up a year ago when the Govern
ment undertook the regulation of meat
packing establishments. The incidents
are so fresh In the minds of the people
that it is scarcely necessary to repeat
the story. As soon as the agitation
for meat inspection became so general
as to make Congressional action proba
ble, the packers set up a cry that the
export business of the country would
be ruinc'l. They were not caring so
much for themselves but they were
alarmed for the poor, toiling stockman
on the range, who would be unable to
find sale for his cattle when loss of
foreign markets had compelled the
packers to lessen their output if not
to close down entirely. Europe would
buy no more' of our .meat after such
exposures. Ruining American trade
was tho charge registered against
President Roosevelt and all others who
advocated reasonable inspection laws.
The packers would have the people be
lieve, and did make many of them be
lieve, that any man who spoke above
a whisper in questioning the purity
and wholesomeness of American food
stuffs was a public enemy, however
good his intentions might be. Disaster
to American industry was predicted by
those patriotic packers of meat. But
the disaster didn't come. On the con
trary tho official reports of trade con
ditions for 1908 show the largest ex
ports of foodstuffs In the history of
the country an increase of 10 per cent
over the preceding year and 20 per
cent over two years before.
And then, when a movement was
started to expose the methods of
Standard Oil and the attention not
only of Americans but of all the world
was attracted to the disclosures, the
oil magnates protested that this agita
tion was furnishing materials . for
rivals abroad to use in making their
fight against the American product.
Like the meat packers, the Standard
Oil magnates were alarmed over the
prospect of a ruin of a groat American
industry. But exports of kerosene
were greater in 1906 than in any pre
vious year by 9 per cent. This was
ruin with a vergeance. Tho fact of
the matter is that nothing more fortu
nate could happen to American manu
facturers, whether of foodstuffs or any
other commodity than the establish
ment of a rigid system of Inspection
which Insures the buyer, foreign or
domestic, that he will get a square
deal.. Honesty is the best policy and
it is profitable even if the policy be
adopted from necessity and not from
choice.
And it is a safe guess that inside of
two years from the enactment of rail
way regulation laws actual experience
will prove such regulation was the best
thing that could happen to the rail
roads. They will find that reduced
passenger fares will increase travel
and cut out free passes. The termina
tion of discriminative rates wiil open
the way for thousands of Industries
that have been killed or suspended by
the long-continued refusal to treat all
shippers alike. Coal mines and saw
mills that were closed down, because
of unfair discrimination against them,
w ill resume operations. Men with capi
tal, who were afraid to invest in large
enterprises for fear of being "frozen
out" by the railroads, will now dare to
embark upon new undertakings. The
plea, of the. railroads has been that
they will be unable to get money be
cause the people have "lost confi
dence" as a result of the agitation for
Governmental control. It is perhaps
true that tho people have lost confi
dence in watered stock. They will
have , no more desire for watered
stock "than for embalmed beef. But
Just as surely as Government regula
tion aided rarthjer than injured the
market for canned goods, just so sure
ly in the end will Government control
help rather than injure the railroads.
Certainty of a square deal is the basis
of all confidence. Confidence based
upon deception, and fraud, whether in
L'lubalinwl beef or watered stock is al-
ways dangerous dangerous to physi
cal health in one case and financial
health In the other.
If a well-known expression in Ore
gon political affairs may be Introduced
in the discussion of National events,
the attitude of the trusts toward Presi
dent Roosevelt might be described as
an effort to put the President "In a
hole." The beef trust tried to preju
dice the American people against
Roosevelt by picturing him as the de
stroyer of the livestock industry. The
railroad trust tried to make the' peo
ple believe that the railroad regulation
laws, for the enactment of which the
President deserves credit, would ruin
industry in every part of the coun
try by preventing improvements and
even throwing the roads into bank
ruptcy. But the effort failed. J.
Pierpont Morgan made the last move
in this direction by securing consent to
a conference oetween the President
and four railroad presidents. Morgan
thought these four railroad magnates
could overpower the Chief Executive
and induce him to recede from the
position he has taken, thus placing
himself in a hole and enabling the
railway presidents to pose as the sa
viors of the country. But they reck
oned without the President and the
people. One railroad, president .will
confer with the people's President next
Thursday and unless all predictions fail
the result will tie far from that which
Mr. Morgan desired. The people will
have more confidence in the railroads
when they are worthy of more.
SCAWSr. is'Al CAPITAI.
In Cleveland, Ohio, there Is a street
railway for which the owners have
been asking $20,000,000, but which is as
sessed at $4,000,000 or 20 per cent of the
actual value. , Another street railway
In the same city was sold for $10,000,000
and is assessed at $600,000, or 6 per
cent of Its actual value. At the same
time residence property is assessed at
60 per cent of actual value. The Cin
cinnati Enquirer has discovered this
discrepancy and. is. "agitating." The
Enquirer should be careful. A year or
so ago The Oregonlan raised a protest
because certain privileged persons Who
owned a street railway system cost
ing $:.000,000 sold it for $6,000,000, the
difference representing the value of
the franchise. The people were ex
pected to pay tolls sufficient to pay
dividends on $6,000,000 though $4,000,000
of the totai capitalization represented
a gift from the people. When The
Oregonian began to discuss the injus
tice of the situation a lot of people
with corporation sympathies were
overcome with alarm for the future of
our industrial growth. "You are driv
ing away capital," was the charge
made. And this assertion was voiced
not only by a few in Portland but by
one or two men of more or less promi
nence in Salem, Corvallis and Eugene.
"Scaring away capital not only from
Portland but from the entire state,"
they proclaimed, with manifest alarm.
Jho results were something appalling
to the calamity howler. A couple of
transcontinental railroads got into a.
pitch battle of construction crews and
then went Into court in their effort to
beat each other into Portland. One
of the most magnificent water powers
in the West was developed a few miles
out to furnish electricity for Portland.
Construction work was commenced at
both ends of a first-class trolley line
connecting Portland and Salem. East
ern meat packing houses "bought ex
tensive tracts of land near the city
upon which to locate factories. Steel
business blocks sprang up. all over the
business part of the city, effecting
such radical changes that a man who
has been away a year feels like a
stranger. Real property, was bought at
high prices and sold again in six
months or a year at 25 to 50 per cent
advance. Men made fairly good for
tunes out of real estate Investments in
12 months. Notwithstanding the over
powering fear of one or two Salem
men, other 'business men of that city
came down here and invested $16,000 In
a piece of property and a year later
sold it for $25,000. Other investors from
Eugene and Salem did nearly as well.
Portland never before saw such rapid
growth and such activity in property
that requires large investments of
capital.
The Cincinnati Enquirer should take
note of what Portland has experienced
and beware. Demanding a square deal
from public service corporations in
your Ohio towns may make it neces
sary for you to tear down or move
away some old landmark residences to
make room for skyscrapers, as has
been necessary In Portland.
REAL ESTATE VALVES.
At a time of unprecendented prosper
ity not of the paper sort, but the fruit
of the country's Industry in every
phase of endeavor one hears in Port
land occasionally a timorous voice ask
ing whether real estate has not gone
too high; whether a man is not taking
a risk to invest at present prices. Such
inquiries come only from men of fixed
conservative habits of mind, who
have neglected to open their eyes to
what is going on around them.
Upon what basis do Investors, here
or elsewhere, determine the value of
city property? There Is but 'one an
swer: Its earning capacity in rents.
Sidestepping this self-evident truth,
the man-afraid-oMits-shadow pipes up
another query as to whether he can be
certain of always keeping his building
filled with tenants able and willing to
pay present prevailing renls. Let him
answer himself by pointing, if he can,
to vacant stores, cheap tenements,
warehouses. offices. flats. hotels,
apartments, boarding-houses, resi
dences or wharves.
"But look at these new sky scrapers,"
he exclaims. 'When they are filled,
the occupants will create vacancies in
other buildings." He need lose no
sleep over a condition that doesn't
exist. Look at the cold facts. Revi
val of prosperity began 10 years ago;
to be exact. In August, 1S97. when dis
covery of gold on the Klondike gave
the United States something else, to
talk about except hard times. In the
succeeding seven years, Portland office
room in new buildings did not meet
one-third of the demand. When the tall
structures now going up are filled
there will be loud call for many more
offices by professional and business
men. These skyscrapers cut too small
a figure In the retail trade to be con
sidered. Is Portland's wholesale, retail, manu
facturing and shipping business grow
ing or declining? Is the population of
Portland and the Pacific Northwest in
creasing? Have the natural resources
of this empire been developed to their
fullest capacity? What are the reason
able probabilities of expansion In every
line of endeavor? Let the intending
investor answer t-htse questions for
himself and then make up his mind
whether Portland real estate is too
high.
If he Is then undecided, let him visit
Los Angeles and Seattle two cities in
Portland's rank, each with far less trib
utary territory and inquire the price
of property In any business or resi
dence district. He will find it about
twice as high as the same class of
property here. For that reason capi
talists of the two cities mentioned
have invested in Portland with the
confident expectation that within a
few yeara they will double their money.
Suppose -by reason of gold discover',
say at the western base of Mount
Hood. 10.000 persons were added next
month to Portland's population, what
stimulus would they give to the city's
business? To what heights would rents
for all kinds of property soar? And
where would increased rent carry real
estate values? Be it remembered that
Portland's annual Increase of popula
tion for three years has been at least
10,000. On this point the vote at gen
eral elections and the school attend
ance are abundant proof. Is it not
natural that the price of . property
should advance in the face of this in
crease in population which Is far more
desirable than any sudden rush?
And what ate the prospects for this
year when thousands upon thousands
of energetic men who build common
wealths are, seeking homes in Portland
and the rich valleys that made Port
land? Does any one believe that the
Pacific Northwest is going to stop
growing? Tour timorous man Is not
only blind to the events of the past
10 years, 1ut he can't pierce the future
at all.
It is the present or the immediate
future, however, that concerns many
men who wish to make real estate in
vestments. If a. net income of 6 per
cent on the cost of ground and build
ings already erected, or to be erected.
Is a satisfactory return to the .man
who -buys, then no property that has
changed hands in Portland the past six
months has been sold for more than It
is actually worth today.
IX JCSTICE TO SETTLERS.
A class of honest, hard-working
citizens and homebuilders. whose
rights have long been under menace be
cause of land-fraud discoveries and
trials are at length to find relief to
which they are entitled. Applications
for patent to lands entered under
homestead and timber filings will be
granted with all possible dispatch.
This is simple justice, too long delayed,
but duly appreciated by a large num
ber of oona fide settlers upon the pub
lic lands of the several land districts of
Oregon. Applications for patents have
been allowed to accumulate in the
General Land Office until the bulk to
be passed upon is enormous. The en
tire attention of the Land. Department
has been taken up for several years
with the apprehension, trial and con
viction of land thieves of high and low
degree, and as a result 30.000 applica
tions for patents have accumulated.
Of this number it is estimated that
one-third represent the claims of Ore
gon settlers, the granting of which will
add something like a million acres to
the taxable property of the state.
The question is of more than indl
vidual interest and importance. ' It
means that homebutldiroj will be expe
dited throughout the state; that large
areas of land willjbe cleared and put
under cultivation; that substantial
farmhouses will succeed the settlers'
cabins and that development, in agri
culture, horticulture, dairying and
stock-raising will be accelerated to the
ad-vantage of a multitude of homebuild
ers and the permanent advancement of
the state. '
MONEY AND THE COURTS.
Payment of money direct to a judge
or jury 1s not the only way of unduly
influencing courts of justice. Money
can be used to delay or avert the ad
ministration of justice without paying
it in the form of a bribe. Newspaper
readers of the entire world are familiar
with the long-drawn-out proceedings
in a New Tork criminal court in a
case in which a rich young man is be
ing tried for the murder of another
rich man. The taking of testimony
has consumed several weeks, during
which time new mental maladies have
been discovered and it has been found
permissible to mention names in open
court in a whisper. Money did this.
Many men have been killed under cir
cumstances not materially different
from those which surrounded the kill
ing of White, except so far as posses
sion of money makes . the circum
stances different. But the slayers and
slain have been men .of very moderate
means. The accused have -been brought
to trial and either convicted or ac
quitted., according to the view taken
by juries. Only a day or two at most
was required to present the facts be
fore the jury and no half-days were
consumed in asking a single hypotheti
cal question. No brain-storm defense
was devised.
If Thaw nd White had been men of
ordinary means the Thaw trial would
have been ended long ago. The peo
ple pay a very large share of the cost
of trial, though the defendant must
hire his attorney and perhaps provide
compensation for his expert witnesses
in addition to the fees provided by law.
But the vital point in the whole pro
ceeding is that Thaw has the advan
tage of a defense that is not available
to ordinary citizens. So far as this
feature of the case is concerned the
question of guilt or innocence is not
material. If Thaw has been accorded
only (he privileges to which he Is en
titled then it follows Inevitably that
ordinary defendants in similar cases
are not secured in their rights. If the
ordinary person charged with murder
gets all that the law allows in the way
of defense, then Thaw is getting more
than he is entitled to receive. As the
Saturday Evening Post well says: "A
criminal Is a criminal no matter what
his financial resources may be, and
crime is crime no matter what color
the motive to it may have." Then why
not a little more equality before ; the
law.
DILL WITS AND SURGERY.
Superintendent Maxwell, of the New
Tork City Schools, has discovered that
adenoids and inflamed tonsils, astig
matism and cranial depressions are ele
ments in juvenile obstinacy, stupidity
and irritability that should be reck
oned with in dealing with pupils in
the schools, before punishment is in
flicted for bad tempers, and pressure
Is 'brought to bear to stimulate mental
activity. In accordance with this dis
covery he advises the Board of Educa
tion to subject all bad boys and
naughty girls, and all stupid and irri
table children in the schools, to medi
cal examination, and in case enlarged
and inflamed tonsils or other Irritating
and depressing physical conditions are
J found, to effect a remedy by. means
approved of medical and surgical sci
ence. Since under the present laws
the parents of pupils would have a de
ciding voice, Mr. Maxwell recommends
that the statutes be amended giving
the School Board authority in such
cases.
The purpose of this recommendation
is to relieve children of disabilities un
der which they struggle on the road to
education through the wide gateway
of the public schools, and to this ex
tent the proposed effort is commend
able. But it must be admitted that
the means suggested are rather dras
tic. When it comes to a demand for
the enactment of laws that count pa
rental authority and judgment out in
a matter so serious as that of employ
ing the surgeon's knife, the oculist's
art or the doctor's potion for the pur
pose of making the child respond to
efforts put forth for his education.
most Legislators will hesitate. r The
New Tork Times expresses the opinion
that diplomacy under present laws
would succeed much better in such
cases than autocracy under new laws.
To be sure, if inflamed tonsils stand
between ignorance and wisdom, or
good temper is smothered beneath bad
nerves and irritability these inequali
ties should be corrected to the end that
the normal balance of the child's char
acter and ability may be restored. But
to take the decision in such cases
away from parents and vest it in law
can scarcely be attempted under a
government that recognizes parental
rights and imposes parental obliga
tions. The people of South Dakota are to be
put upon trial in a manner that they
probably will not relish, for they are
to decide by popular vote whether the
dlvorco laws shall -be amended by re
quiring a year.'s residence instead of
six months before suit can be brought.
The Legislature passed a law for that
purpose but the lawyers, hotel-keepers
and professional witnesses, who thrive
off the divorce cases are circulating
referendum petitions and will hold up
the new law for two years. The meas
ure must be submitted to a vote of the
people before it can become effective,
so the question will be plainly and un
avoidably presented, whether the peo
ple of South Dakota wish their state to
continue as the American divorce mill.
Some protest has been .made against
the submission of this 'bill to a vote of
the people. JSut why not? If the peo
ple of South Dakota wish the six
months' residence feature to continue
in force have they not a right to say
so by their votes? Perhaps the- South
Dakota Legislature has misrepresented
the .rspoplex as legislatures ha.ve . in
some other states. Possibly public sen
timent in that state would favor re
ducing the residence clause to three
months instead of lengthening it to
one year. Besides, it will be Interest
ing to the rest of the country to see
what South Dakota people really think
about the free-and-easy, divorce ques
tion. The evening newspaper appendage of
the First Families in Portland last
Sunday plagiarized an editorial of the
Baltimore Xews, on "The Newspaper
Reporter." The effort lacked the merit
of Trill's plagiarized college oration, in
that Trill perhaps made some improve
ment on the Beveridge speech, whereas
the evening appendage did not score
such an achievement. The stolen edl-
rial was fairly good, however, and
jittained some fresh ideas. Compll
nents are herewith tendered. The
First Families editor should have a
good job waiting for Mr. TrllK When
a. plagiarizing editor cannot improve
his material he should take means to
prevent senile decay.
In the death of Mrs. Sophronia Gib
son at her home at Mt. Tabor last
Sunday, another early settler in the
Oregon country has passed away. Of
her 92 years of life Mrs. Gibson lived
57 in Oregon. In her early years and
on to old age she was an energetic
helpful woman, doing well and cheer
fully her large part in the world of
endeavor. In her extreme age she was
still cheerful and passed on and out
leaving a heritage of good words and
works to her community.
Johji L. Sullivan has voiced his
hearty approval of Evelyn Thaw and
says if Harry doesn't stand by her "till
death do us part," he, John L., will ad
minister appropriate punishment. This
outburst of enthusiasm aroused some
applause for the exHihamplon until
some one heartlessly recalled' the court
proceedings of several years ago when
a Mrs. Sullivan was awarded a divorce
because her husband beat her. The ad
miring crowds subsided.
There is a good deal of talk in Linn
County about invoking' the referendum
upon the appropriation for the Univer
sity of Oregon. Beyond this, however",
the dissatisfaction voiced by the
Granges has not extended. It is a
movement. If such it can be called.
without leadership and unless this
quality is developed it will spend Itself
in vaponngs.
After finishing up Ruef, Heney might
come to Portland again and fix his
searchlight on an ex-boss of this city.
in whose administration valuable fran
chises were given away free, and who
is now living comfortably without visi
ble means of support.
The tendency of the times-is toward
a public school education that edu
cates. Hence the popularity of the
free industrial school as supplementary
to the grammar school or running par
allel with it. '
There are persons in the world.
whose souls weighed nothing, and we
can .prove it. To their class belong
those who are too stingy to make
street or sidewalk improvements.
There are other bandits in high
finance besides Harriman. He's ac
counted worst, because he fleeced the
people's railroads in these days of re
form agitation.
Everything was pleasant at that
meeting between Mr. , U'Ren and Mrs.
Lewelling. So says Mrs. Lewelling.
Does Mr. U'Ren dare give his version?
Judged by the evll'stored up unto the
day thereof in the campaign for Mayor
something is going to happen to sev
eral candidates for that office.
Perhaps the Councllmen who want
more pay think their salaries should
approach closer to the $3 a day of the
County Commissioners.
We really thought it unlikely that
Mrs. Lewelling should insult Mr.
U'Ren. Nobody has yet accomplished
that feat. ' ,
RAILROADS AXD THE PRESIDENT
A Trials Mad a Way Oat.
Philadelphia North American.
It Is a strange circumstance that pre
dictions of industrial and financial dis
aster Should he henrrt at .- .i
the prosperity of the country is tre
mendous, when thero i. ' . .....
inflation and when there r r.i. he-
wars nor rurnnra .... .
there is nothing in the nH..trui .i
commercial situation tn eecx- i
The warnins- enmoo -i .. i . . ..
street and the money-changers the
non
K'uuuiers ana it contains a threat.
The
ii.rmt. is aimed at the policies of
President, which are also the poll-
Of the npnnlo
the
cles
Ask one of rh fi n o .. ; i. . . w .
.i " urn me
trouble is. and his answer will be
Roosevelt! He is going to ruin busl-
ness.
Jiiquire -unit has he done?"
an
a me reponse will be made: "He
threatening the raiirnajB ... i . v.
is
fiscation. He wants to reduce the cap-
i-"uira oi tne roads. He is trvine
' unsettle values and to disturb vested
terests."
It is that he may be restrained from
pu
nne or action that the
pre
several or tne greatest
IroariK hai-. ..-.-... .. . . . .
rail
... . u 1 1 r. . . lv 11 IT L AVI i .
Roosevelt In solemn conference.
To underrate the power of these rail
road managers and financiers would be
luuimu. it tney want a panic, they can
create one. Let us look snuarelv at
he situation. Men gorged with wealth,
ven ill-gotten wealth, do not surren
icr it without a struggle. . '
There are good reasons for believ
ng that the panic of 1893 was deliher
tely prepared by these Interests. They
an dO the HliflH Qtraln ie -
. ' J ' I1 ' ' -'.'111 ...
against them shall, become too severe.
Surresder, bat ?
Brooklyn Eagle.
The attitude of Harri man is rathpr
that of proffered surrender. In the
matter that Roosevelt has Insisted upon
publicity the surrender is complete.
It is extremely doubtful whether any
peace will follow until Roosevelt shall
nave carried . to a successful conclu
sion his war for strict supervision and
rigid regulation, by Government, of the
corporate creatures of government.
something doubtless will follow the
meeting. If it be not peace, it may be
explosion. Mr. Roosevelt is a man of
bllity. of tenacity of purpose, of high
courage, of powerful will, of unrelent
ing determination and of a sensitive
conscience, dominated by a wide ap
preciation of morals. Mr. Harriman is
a man of ability, of tenacity of purpose.
oi nign courage, of powerful will, of
unrelenting determination and of a con
science dominated by the idea that all
means are Justified that secure the end
of purpose. It is therefore quite among
the possibilities that the meeting of
Tuesday will be the meeting of flint
am steel. A spark may be struck that
will light a blaze.
Corporation Responsible.
Philadelphia Press.
The eager and ambitious men who
thought themselves resistless and who
stamped their impress on railroad and
corporate expansion are chiefly respon
sible for the condition they now de
plore. Tn their struggles and rivalries
they thought only of their own pur
poses and not of the just claims of the
people. They used means that aroused
the state of feeling at which they are
now alarmed. There has. indeed, been
very little new Federal legislation. The
Sherman anti-trust law Is nearly 20
years old. The Interstate Commerce
law belongs to the' same period. Their
latent powers were not invoked until
the offensive and oppressive measures
of the great corporations compelled re
course to them for public protection.
President Roosevelt both led and re
flected public sentiment in the applica
tion of remedies that had become im
perative,' and since the force of these
weapons in the armory of existing law
was found they have been used witn
great effect.
Sincerely Sincere.
Kansas City Times.
The sincerity of the railways In this
change of front is best vouehad for in
their statements that they want to co
operate for law with the Commerce
Commission, in order to avoid the radi
cal tendencies of the people as denoted
in the several State Legislatures. Noth
ing more helpful or significant than
these assertions can be recalled in the
American industrial record. It is of no
value whether this state legislation has so
far been too radical or not. The im
mensely Important fact is that the rail
ways and like "big interests" have dis
covered that they cannot successfully
disregard public opinion and public
laws, that they themselves have been
rushing this country toward the peril
of Socialism and anarchy, and that if
they would conserve their genuine
rights they will have to conform their
actions to the President's standard of
the right social order "to every man
his share, no more, no less."
Transportation, or Speculation.
New Tork Post.
The main question comes back to
this: Does the panic of the presidents
relate purely to the railroads as trans
portation companies, or as the basis of
financial speculation? Is their thought
chiefly of common carriers as affected
with a public interest, or as affected
with a stock-market interest? If they
can make their attitude perfectly clear,
and convince the public that it is sound,
they have nothing to dread from hostile
legislation, in the State Legislatures or
by Congress. But as long as ambiguity
remains as long as we have railroad
presidents who vote themselves 30 per
cent dividends and decline to say
whether they were gambling in their
own stocks, on the strength of informa
tion Improperly kept from the public
so long will their cries of grief and
fear and wounded pride be merely what
the French economist called travail
euperflu.
A rbana-ed Attitude.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
The visit of Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan
to the President to arrange for a con
ference with a number of railroad
presidents, the utterances of Mr. E. H.
Harriman a few days ago and similar
views expressed by Mr. Hill, Mr. btlck
ney and others, indicate- a change ii
the attitude of the transportation in
terests toward the Government and the
public.
This is a healthful and hopeful
change, and it is desirable that it lead
to better conditions all around. Some
of the railroads have sinned greatly
against the public. In some cases the
discovery of the tact ana tne general
agitation that has accomplished it have
led to unreasonable legislation legrsla
tion of vengeance, arbitrariness and
emotionalism. This spirit in the people
Is as reprehensible as the conduct they
condemn in the offending railroads.
Not Third-Termers.
Omaha Bee.
President Roosevelt's statement that
he will be as glad to meet railroad
presidents as any other eitizen leaves
the railroad men to place their estimate
nn their RtAnriine at the White House.
However, Mr. Harriman's hope for
peace with the Administration has not
yet induced him to join the ranks of
the third-term boomers.
Value Reeel-redf
Kansas City Star.
The railroads are alarmed over the
prospect of being compelled to base
their freight rates on the actual value
of the roads. That would be just like
making them work for their money. "
F. I. M'KEXXA ISSCES CHALLENGE.
Waats to Debate Hisa License Ques
tion Wltb Rev. Mr. Shaffer.
PORTLAND, March 18. To the Editor)
My attention was called to the sermon
of Rev. H. C. Shaffer, published in The
Oregonian this morning, pertaining to
the proposed $1,000 license ordinace.. Mr.
Shaffer, like some other Prohibitionists,
has a misconception of the case at issue.
The question of high license wr no license
is not before the voters of Portland. The
question for the voters to decide is. shall
we have a $1,000 license with a strict regu
lation of the liquor traffic or shall we
have an $800 license with the usual wide
open town. Mr Shaffer, by opposing the
$1,000 license ordinance, joins with the
liquor dealers for a wide open town.
This is not a surprise to me as the
history of the Prohibition party has al
ways shown the extremist in that party
in bed with the lowest class of saloon
keepers. It is true, however, that while in
bed with the saloon-keeper they keep the
covers constantly agitated, but one can
always rely on finding them there on
election day.
We now have license for saloons in
Portland and not even the most radical
opponent of the liquor traffic has the
slightest hope i of total prohibition in
Portland soon. Now, Mr. Shaffer, know
ing that you want something that you
know you cannot have, at best for many
years to come, are you willing to say you
are opposed to doing anything toward
protecting our boys and girls from the
contaminating influence of the liquor traf
fic until the time comes when you can
have total prohibition?
When the constitution of the state of
Ohio was adopted. In 1802, a provision was
Inserted in it which said, that no license
should be issued to any person to sell in
toxicating liquors, thus Intending to
make Ohio the ideal prohibition state.
Saloons were not licensed but saloons
were more numerous in that state up to
1SS4 than the stores in any other lines of
business. I was born in Ohio and lived
there until manhood grown. I . lived in
Omaha when the Siocum high license law
was adopted in the state of Nebraska.
As a commercial traveling salesman, I
traveled through prohibition Iowa, prohi
bition Kansas and high license local op
tion Nebraska for several years, and I
believe that I have some practical knowl
edge of the liquor traffic.
The advocates of the $1000 license ordi
nance claim thate it will reduce the
number of saloons In Portland from ap
proximately 4S0 to 350 by cutting out 100
of the lowest class; It will take out of
the remaining saloons the attractions fhat
make them the loafing' places for men
who should be at home with their fami
lies; it will stop men from enticing young
girls into restaurant boxes for the pur
pose of making them drunk and accomp
lishing their ruin; It will close the doors
of saloons on Sunday; It will increase the
revenue of the city from $50,000 to $100,000
per annum. The proposed $1000 ordinance
may not accomplish all that would be
desired, but, with an Excise Board, in
sympathy with good government and a
clean city, it will be a vast improve
ment. I thoroughly believe in the pro
posed $1000 ordinance as a measure of re
form, therefore intend to meet every
man who dares openly to advocate its
defeat.
I now challenge Mr.' Shaffer, or any
reputable person whom the liquor deal
ers may see fit to name, to meet me in
debate on the merits of the two ordi
nances which shall be placed before' the
voters at the June election. I win" not
object to debating the subject with Mr.
Shaffer in his own church in the pres
ence of his congregation.
. FRANCIS I. McKENNA.
A Non-Smoker Jaba Weed-Laers.
PORTLAND, March 17. Referring to
the communication signed "Miss R. B.,"
in a recent issue of The Oregonian, on
the opinion of many women as to the
use by men of tobacco, with her I do
not believe men intend to be discour
teous. But it is time they should know
from women who wish them every hap
piness that there are many martyrs who
have silently endured the pipe and cigar
for the sake of this desire to make man
happy in his folly.
I have just received a letter from a
well-known citizen who for 30 years had
had this manly pleasure, until his eyes
and throat have begun to protest. He
finds since he does not smoke tobacco
that the presence of a smoker is most
repulsive to him. and thinks that the
habit should be added to the causes for
divorce. Neither Washington, Lincoln,
Lee, -Fremont, Roosevelt nor "Funston
used tobacco. Tet our youth must
sustain themselves after and before every
exertion with a smoke.
I am happy to say the habit of cigarette
emoking has almost disappeared among
cultured American women. It yet lingers
among the back-woods of Tennessee and
Kentucky and the aged colored people.
M. K. E.
A State-Builder.
Bend Bulletin.
There is an enterprising family living
on and improving a homestead about four
miles from Bend, and one of the oldest
children dally walks that distance to at
tend the town school. The desire that
prompts a 14-year-old girl to walk eight
miles daily in order to get an education
deserves the reward that naturally comes
to the diligent seeker after learning.
No Mlsaourlan, Thank You.
Newberg Graphic -
Mrs. Duniway Is not one of the sisters
who is willing to be sho.wn by a "man.
MAYBE THIS IS HARRIMAN'S CO-OPERATIVE PLAN
BREAK DOWN FREIGHT BARRIERS.
Coqutlle Vallrj Teople Vigorously t orn
plala of Railroad Abunen.
MTRTLE POINT. Dr.. March 17.
(To the Editor.) The people of the
Coquillc Valley are just now under
going a system of railroad abuses
which perhaps is not equaled in any
other part of the United States. As
has " been heretofore stated from "".this
section in the columns of The Ore
gonian, the Coquillc Valley is isolated
from the Coos Bay country by a low
ridge of hills and is reached only by
means of the -C. B. R. & E. Railroad,
which terminates at Myrtle Point. As
is generally known, the Southern l'a
inc Company has' recently purchas-'d
this road, and .since then continued in
crease of freight rates has been in prog
ress, which at present threatens to be
come almost prohibitive.
For the past few weeks the steamer
Alliance, the only boat which billed
freight on the railroad, has been in
the drydock. The customary freight
rate from Portland to Myrtle Point
billed on the Alliance and the. railroad
Is $1.50 per ton. While the Alliance
was not on her run. the people of the
steamer Kilhurn, the only hoat from
Portland into Coos Bay, failed to come
to an agreement whereby she could
hill freight through on the railroad
and would therefore accept freight only
to Coos Bay.
Now. as a matter of fact, the local
freight rate from Coos Bay to the Cn
quille is $6 per ton. The Ktlburn's
rate from Portland Is $3 per ton. At
present tills forces the people to pay
$9 per ton from Portland to the Co
quille 'Valley. The local freight rate
on the railroad has been for the past
several months $6 per ton. for a dis
tance of 25 miles. To all fair-mindod
people the proposition noted is pre
posterous, as it compels our people
here to pay a higher price for the ne
cessities of life than is paid by peo
ple in other sections of the state. The
disaster last year in San Krandm-o
has diverted a good deal of trade of
this country from that city to Port
land. Whether or not Portland can
now hold this trade is a question of
whether or not the existing freight re
strictions on goods coming from Port
land can be relieved.
There are several small steamers ply
ing between San Francisco and tli
mouth of the Coquille, but there are
no such boats from Portland. Many mer
chants of the Coquille Valley are there
fore considering the advisability of re
suming trade relations with San Fran
isco. from whence goods can be ent
here at reasonable rates. Of course. Coos
Bay does not now nor never has had to
suffer from the abnormal freight con
ditions from which the Coquille Valley
has had to suffer. But as the Coquilla
is the real Coos Bay country, this is the
section on which Coos Bay must draw
for practically all of her resources.
For some months past, the Chambers of
Commerce of the different towns of the
Coquille have been considering the ad
visability of a plan to build a boat for
the carrying of freight from Portland or
San Francisco to this section. Commer
cial travelers from Portland have assured
the people here that such a plan would
meet with much approval there, and
that Portland business men whose in
terests lie to some extent in this direc
tion will assist in this matter in a
financial way. Whenever the merchants
here are assured of assistance from, Port
land or San Francisco in a matter of this
kind, there Is not a doubt that such a
plan will be matured and carried through
successfully. But whether Portland or
San Francisco will get the trade of this
section, will doubtless depend upon which
Is most willing to asist in a material way
in breaking down the freight barriers.
If the railroad from Drain to Coos Bay
is pushed through to completion and the
freight rates over it are not prohibitive,
there would be no need of a boat for tho
Coquille. But in view of past numerous
railroad promises, people are in no mood
to depend on anything of that nature.
This country: is a part of Oregon and
therefore should trade with Portland. The
people appreciate this fact, and if Port
land will meet us half way in the freight
difficulties, it means that the bulk ot
the Coos County trade will go to Port
land and that both sections of the state
will be mutually benefited thereby.
L. E. B.
Monastery Belli-.
(By Alfred Austin, Poet Laureate of Ens
land.) Independent.
I.
Bometime-i when, weary, the sad wul rebel-
Against the strife and discord all aroun4,
Onr seems to catch the faint far-off (round
Of melody that softly Flnks and swells.
It is the sound of Monastery Bells
In solitudes by sanctuary crowned.
From meditation peaceful a'nd profound
Calling grave Friars to prayer from silent
cells.
Then yearningly one craves to have release
From the world's rivalries and worthless
prize,
To find some spot where Glory's selfish sicha
And strugrKle's endless tribulations erae.
To join In vesper chant as sunset dies.
And pass life's evening in monastic peacft,
II.
But when resound, as day dawns dim and
drear,
MoanliiKs of anfruish, sobblnirs of distress.
From hearthless homes of famished loneli
ness, With none to rescue, nothing to revere.
Again one feels one still 1b wanted here.
To aid, admonish, comfort and caress.
Emooth the hard pillow pallid sufferers pro-.
Stanch the fresh wound, and wipe- awar
the tear.
So. thouRh one lonps as ever to depart.
And to gross sounds and sighs live deaf
and blind.
Borrowing- one stays with sorrow, still re
signed To work, unhired, amid life's hireling
mart.
To cherish in the crowd monastic mind.
And In a world profane a cloistered heart.
SWINFORD OLD MANOR, Kent, England.
Americanized Already.. .
Woodburn Independent.
A bunch of Japs was in town Tuesday
en route to Shaw. One promiscuously
carried a rflle, having probably been here
before. Another was drunk, . having
thought it expedient to get up a little
"Dutch nerve."
From the Philadelphia Record.